Former tenants of Chesterfield garages have three days to collect their belongings

Chesterfield Borough Council has granted planning permission for Chesterfield SSL Ltd to transform the garage site at Catherine Street, Brampton, into assisted living accommodation consisting of six bungalows and six apartments.

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Liberal Democrat councillor Keith Falconer, who represents the Holmebrook ward on the council, said the site had ‘suddenly’ been fenced off this week – and he voiced concern that people who used to rent the garages would not be able to get into them to collect any belongings.

However, Chesterfield SSL told the Derbyshire Times that former occupiers would be able to access the garages between 9am and 5pm on March 5, between 10am and 4pm on March 7 and between 9am and 5pm on March 10.

Coun Falconer added: “While I’m not against the idea of this assisted living scheme in principle, I think the parking situation is going to become frightening in the area.

“I think the whole block would have been better off as a combination of paid parking spaces and garages.”

A spokesperson for Chesterfield SSL said: “Chesterfield SSL purchased the site from the local council.

“They have been granted planning consent to redevelop the site into assisted living accommodation, which will be beneficial to the local residents of Chesterfield.”

A design and access statement which accompanied Chesterfield SSL’s planning application stated: “The scheme provides a real opportunity to enhance the site, provide much-needed assisted housing and improve the appearance of the site.

“The site is located in the centre of a residential and commercial area where there are local amenities, good access roads and transport links. This lends the site to a residential development.

“The proposed units are to all be 24-hour assisted living units. There is an identified need in Chesterfield for this type of accommodation. The proposed units seek to address this.”

Up to 32 full-time jobs are expected to be created with the scheme – 20 working in shifts in the bungalows and 12 in the apartments.

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